Unsafe sex linked to rise in HIV rates in gay men

Conclusion The study has identified two main factors that have impacted HIV rates among MSM in the UK – condom use and antiretroviral therapy (ART).  It also found that if there was more HIV testing and ART was started immediately after diagnosis, the rates of the disease could be reduced further. Other studies, such as surveys of MSM, have also found an increase in condomless sex after the introduction of effective ART. In the UK, ART is usually only started once a person's CD4 cell count (a measure of immune function) falls to below 350 cells/mm3. The authors note that randomised controlled trials (RCTs) have not yet reliably assessed the balance of the benefits and risks of starting ART soon after diagnosis, but trials are ongoing. The researchers state that their modelling of the impact of immediate treatment with ART after HIV diagnosis (without waiting for white blood cell count to drop to a specified level) presumes that this would not lead to an increase in condomless sex. They suggest that a negative impact on condom use seems unlikely. This model benefits from having a large amount of UK data available on HIV-related trends. But, as with all modelling studies, it is impossible to take all potential factors into account. For example, the current model did not factor in the risks associated with unprotected oral sex. The assumptions the model is based on may also not happen in the real world, which affects how seriously we can take the predictions the mod...
Source: NHS News Feed - Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Medical practice Lifestyle/exercise Source Type: news